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Schools
Sharp Drop In College Enrollment Raises Alarm Sharp Drop In College Enrollment Raises Alarm
Sharp Drop In College Enrollment Raises Alarm Fewer high school graduates began college this fall, with enrollment in that age group dropping 5 percent from last year, according to an analysis by the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center.  Four-year institutions were hardest hit, with public colleges seeing an 8.5 percent drop in first-year enrollments and private nonprofit colleges reporting a 6.5 percent decline.  This trend poses significant challenges for colleges and universities, particularly those reliant on tuition revenue.  As the competition for students intensifies, institutions face mounting pressur…

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by Joe Lombardi
Politics
Biden Withdraws From 2024 Presidential Race, Endorses VP Kamala Harris To Be New Nominee Biden Withdraws From 2024 Presidential Race, Endorses VP Kamala Harris To Be New Nominee
Biden Withdraws From 2024 Presidential Race, Endorses VP Kamala Harris To Be New Nominee President Joe Biden has just announced he is pulling out of the 2024 race against Republican nominee Donald Trump. In a letter to "My Fellow Americans" released just before 2 p.m. Sunday, July 21, Biden said: “It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your president. “And while it has been my intention to seek re-election, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and to focus solely on fulfilling my duties as president for the remainder of my term.” The news comes amid concerns over the 81-year-old Biden's health, which were loudly …

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by Joe Lombardi
Politics
‘Sad Day’: SCOTUS Bump Stock Ruling Sparks Bipartisan Condemnation From NY Politicians ‘Sad Day’: SCOTUS Bump Stock Ruling Sparks Bipartisan Condemnation From NY Politicians
‘Sad Day’: SCOTUS Bump Stock Ruling Sparks Bipartisan Condemnation From NY Politicians New York politicians wasted no time reacting to the Supreme Court’s decision striking down a federal ban on bump stocks, which allow semiautomatic rifles to fire more quickly. In their 6-3 ruling Friday, June 14, with conservatives in the majority, the high court sided with a Texas gun store owner who surrendered his bump stocks after the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) reclassified the devices as machine guns in 2018. He later sued to get them back. The ATF’s regulation, issued under the Trump administration with his full support, came about after the 2017 Las Veg…

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by Michael Mashburn
Politics
Longtime Senator, Former VP Candidate Joe Lieberman Dies At Age 82 Longtime Senator, Former VP Candidate Joe Lieberman Dies At Age 82
Longtime Senator, Former VP Candidate Joe Lieberman Dies At Age 82 Joe Lieberman, who represented Connecticut in the US Senate for more than two decades and ran alongside Al Gore during his historically unsuccessful bid for the White House in 2000, has died at the age of 82. The Democrat-turned-Independent died Wednesday, March 27, in New York after suffering complications from a fall, according to NBC News. "Senator Lieberman’s love of God, his family, and America endured throughout his life of service in the public interest," the outlet quoted his family as saying. News of his death sparked a flood of tributes from across the political spectrum. A…

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by Michael Mashburn
Schools
Legacy At Stake: Harvard Admissions Perk Under Federal Review, Reports Say Legacy At Stake: Harvard Admissions Perk Under Federal Review, Reports Say
Legacy At Stake: Harvard Admissions Perk Under Federal Review, Reports Say Harvard University is under federal scrutiny for its preferential treatment of donor and legacy candidates, reports say.  The US Department of Education announced this week it had opened an investigation into the prestigious Massachusetts university's admissions practices for undergraduate applicants, according to Harvard's newspaper, the Crimson.    Related: End Of 'Legacy': Wesleyan University Halts Admissions Perk The investigation will seek to determine if the legacy or donor admissions discriminate on the basis of race, the Crimson reported. If so, the university m…

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by Morgan Gonzales
News
End Of A 'Legacy': Prestigious University In Northeast Halts Admissions Perk End Of A 'Legacy': Prestigious University In Northeast Halts Admissions Perk
End Of A 'Legacy': Prestigious University In Northeast Halts Admissions Perk Legacy college applicants will no longer receive a "bump" admissions preference at a prominent university in the Northeast.    Wesleyan University, located in Middletown, Connecticut, announced on Wednesday, July 19 that it would formally end admission preference for applicants who are related to Wesleyan graduates, according to a statement from the university.  Legacy status played a "negligible" role in the university's admission process for years, the statement said, but in the wake of the recent Supreme Court decision that effectively ended affirmative action, t…

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by Morgan Gonzales
News
Gag Order: Upstate NY City Barred From Speaking About Shooting Involving VT Deputy, Report Says Gag Order: Upstate NY City Barred From Speaking About Shooting Involving VT Deputy, Report Says
Gag Order: Upstate NY City Barred From Speaking About Shooting Involving VT Deputy, Report Says City officials in upstate New York have been barred from making further public comments about the officer-involved shooting of a Vermont sheriff’s deputy, WNYT reports.  On Wednesday, Nov. 23, the Saratoga County District Attorney’s Office got a temporary restraining order from a Supreme Court judge prohibiting Saratoga Springs officials from talking about or releasing video or audio from the incident, the outlet said. Earlier Report: Off-Duty Deputy From Vermont Shot By Police In Capital Region (Video) The shooting, which was captured on officer-worn body camera footage that was released…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
Federal Judge Blocks Key Parts Of NY's New Gun Law Federal Judge Blocks Key Parts Of NY's New Gun Law
Federal Judge Blocks Key Parts Of NY's New Gun Law A federal judge has temporarily blocked a New York law that makes it harder for people to legally carry concealed guns. In his ruling Thursday, Oct. 1, US District Judge Glenn Suddaby in the Northern District of New York allowed a lawsuit from the advocacy group, Gun Owners of America, to move forward. The group claims that the new law is just as unconstitutional as one that was overturned by the Supreme Court in June 2022. Previous Report: Want A Gun In NY? Be Ready To Share Your Social Media Accounts Under New Law Dubbed the Concealed Carry Improvement Act, the law requires license a…

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by Michael Mashburn
Politics
Hudson Valley County Exec's Congressional Special Election Win Cited Nationally As Bellwether Hudson Valley County Exec's Congressional Special Election Win Cited Nationally As Bellwether
Hudson Valley County Exec's Congressional Special Election Win Cited Nationally As Bellwether Democrats received a major confidence boost heading into the November midterms after Pat Ryan won a special election for New York's open 19th House seat in a race that's considered a national bellwether. Ryan, the Ulster County executive, was leading Republican Marc Molinaro, the Dutchess County executive, with 51 percent of the vote when the Associated Press called the race just after midnight Wednesday, Aug. 24. The swing district, located in the Catskills and mid-Hudson Valley regions and which includes Ulster and Dutchess counties, was left vacant when Democrat Antonio Delgado became …

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by Michael Mashburn
Business
CVS, Rite Aid To Limit Purchases Of Emergency Contraception CVS, Rite Aid To Limit Purchases Of Emergency Contraception
CVS, Rite Aid To Limit Purchases Of Emergency Contraception Some of the nation’s largest drug store chains will be limiting the purchases of emergency contraception amid a rise in demand following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. Both CVS and Rite Aid announced that they will be limiting purchases of Plan B contraceptive pills and After “to ensure equitable access and consistent supply on store shelves,” according to an email obtained by CNN. Moving forward, sales of emergency contraception pills may be limited to three per customer, according to the report. Officials noted that the drug stores "have an ample supply” of the co…

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by Zak Failla
Business
Major Companies Say They'll Cover Employee Travel Expenses For Abortions Major Companies Say They'll Cover Employee Travel Expenses For Abortions
Major Companies Say They'll Cover Employee Travel Expenses For Abortions Several major media companies will cover travel costs for employees seeking abortions in response to the Supreme Court overturning Roe vs. Wade, Variety reports.  This comes after the court ruled 6-3 to overturn people's constitutional right to the procedure on the morning of Friday, June 24. Companies including Disney, Netflix, Paramount, Comcast, Sony and Meta confirmed to Variety that they will be reimbursing their employees who travel across state lines to get an abortion. You can read what these companies said by clicking here. 

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by David Cifarelli
News
Supreme Court Strikes Down Roe V. Wade, Ending 50 Years Of Federal Abortion Rights Supreme Court Strikes Down Roe V. Wade, Ending 50 Years Of Federal Abortion Rights
Supreme Court Strikes Down Roe V. Wade, Ending 50 Years Of Federal Abortion Rights This story has been updated. The Supreme Court has overturned Roe vs. Wade, the ruling that established the constitutional right to abortion in the United States in 1973. The court's 5-4 decision was announced late Friday morning, June 24. The ruling gives individual states the power to make their own abortion laws. “The Constitution does not confer a right to abortion," the majority opinion, written by Justice Samuel Alito said. "Roe and Casey are overruled; and the authority to regulate abortion is returned to the people and their elected representatives." "Roe was egregiously wrong f…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
Supreme Court Strikes Down NY Concealed Gun Law In Place For More Than A Century Supreme Court Strikes Down NY Concealed Gun Law In Place For More Than A Century
Supreme Court Strikes Down NY Concealed Gun Law In Place For More Than A Century The Supreme Court has just struck down a New York law that places limits on carrying a concealed gun outside the home. The 6-3 decision was announced late Thursday morning, June 23. At issue in the case was whether the state of New York's denial of petitioners' applications for concealed-carry licenses for self-defense violate the Second Amendment's right to "keep and bear arms." The New York law had been in place for more than 100 years. Justice Clarence Thomas wrote the majority opinion which invalidates the state's requirement for people to show "proper cause" to get public carry lic…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
NY, CT Lawmakers Vow To Legally Shield Those Seeking Abortions NY, CT Lawmakers Vow To Legally Shield Those Seeking Abortions
NY, CT Lawmakers Vow To Legally Shield Those Seeking Abortions Lawmakers in New York and Connecticut are vowing to protect those seeking abortions from potential legal trouble that could arise from states with more restrictive laws. Responding to the leaked draft opinion hinting that the Supreme Court may soon strike down Roe V. Wade, New York State Sen. Alessandra Biaggi called on lawmakers to pass a bill under consideration that would legally shield those who travel to New York for reproductive or gender affirming healthcare. “New York must hold strong as a safe haven for people seeking to exercise their rights. This bill will help protect anyone who…

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by Michael Mashburn
Politics
Hochul Says She's 'Horrified' By Supreme Court Draft Leak, Says NY Will Uphold Abortion Rights Hochul Says She's 'Horrified' By Supreme Court Draft Leak, Says NY Will Uphold Abortion Rights
Hochul Says She's 'Horrified' By Supreme Court Draft Leak, Says NY Will Uphold Abortion Rights New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has vowed to uphold abortion right laws in her state in the wake of the Supreme Court reportedly now having a majority to overturn the Roe v. Wade decision. According to reported leaks of a Supreme Court draft, lawmakers are planning to strike down the measure, which guaranteed federal protections of abortion rights for women. In the leaked draft, which was published exclusively by Politico, Justice Samuel Alito wrote that the ruling was “egregiously wrong from the start,” and that “it must be overruled,” to “return the issue of abortion to the people’s elected r…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
Construction Underway On Yonkers School Named For Justice Sonia Sotomayor Construction Underway On Yonkers School Named For Justice Sonia Sotomayor
Construction Underway On Yonkers School Named For Justice Sonia Sotomayor Officials have broken ground at a new Westchester school named for a groundbreaking Supreme Court justice. In Yonkers, construction has begun on a new school named in honor of Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, a Bronx native who is the first Latina to sit on the bench. Upwards of 700 pre-K through eighth-grade students are expected to attend the school on McLean Avenue once it is completed, one of three new schools planned for the city in the coming years. A rendering of the Justice Sonia Sotomayor Community School in YonkersYonkers Public Schools Construction is expected to be co…

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by Zak Failla
Politics
Trump Aide From Westchester Unanimously Held In Contempt By Jan. 6 Panel Trump Aide From Westchester Unanimously Held In Contempt By Jan. 6 Panel
Trump Aide From Westchester Unanimously Held In Contempt By Jan. 6 Panel The House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection at the US Capitol in Washington DC unanimously voted to refer former Trump aides Peter Navarro and Dan Scavino, Jr. to the Justice Department for criminal contempt of Congress charges. Scavino, a Northern Westchester native from Yorktown and former resident of Hopewell Junction in Dutchess County who served as a social media director during the Trump campaign and later worked alongside him in the White House as deputy chief of staff, is officially facing a criminal contempt charge for refusing to comply with subpoenas from the i…

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by Zak Failla
Politics
Justice Stephen Breyer To Retire, Allowing Biden To Make First Pick For Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer To Retire, Allowing Biden To Make First Pick For Supreme Court
Justice Stephen Breyer To Retire, Allowing Biden To Make First Pick For Supreme Court Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer announced that he will retire at the end of his current term, paving the way for President Joe Biden to handpick his replacement. The 83-year-old liberal judge is the oldest member of the court, having been nominated by former President Bill Clinton and taking his seat in 1994 alongside the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. His retirement will take effect at the end of his current term after serving 28 years on the court. Biden said when he was a 2020 presidential candidate that his first Supreme Court nominee would be a Black woman.  Amy Coney Barret…

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by Zak Failla
Business
COVID-19: Starbucks Reverses Policy On Vaccine Mandates COVID-19: Starbucks Reverses Policy On Vaccine Mandates
Covid-19: Starbucks Reverses Policy On Vaccine Mandates Starbucks announced that it will no longer require its employees in the United States to get vaccinated against COVID-19. ABC News reported that the coffee shop chain made the announcement in a memo to employees on Tuesday, Jan. 18. The company reportedly said it made the decision in light of the Supreme Court's ruling, which rejected the Biden administration's effort to require companies with more than 100 employees to mandate vaccines or regular testing. Starbucks previously had announced it would require employees to get vaccinated against COVID-19 by Sunday, Feb. 9 or require that they…

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by Nicole Valinote
News
COVID-19: Hochul Announces New Moratorium On Residential, Commercial Evictions COVID-19: Hochul Announces New Moratorium On Residential, Commercial Evictions
Covid-19: Hochul Announces New Moratorium On Residential, Commercial Evictions New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced a new moratorium on evictions related to financial hardship from the pandemic. The governor said the moratorium on residential and commercial evictions will be in effect until Jan. 15, 2022.  Hochul said the new law, signed on Thursday, Sept. 2, continues protections for residential tenants who are suffering financial hardship due to the pandemic and adds new protections on commercial evictions. "The pandemic has created unimaginable anxiety for families and business owners who have lost income and are struggling to pay the rent every month," Hochu…

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by Nicole Valinote
Politics
Massachusetts Governor Backs Biden Push For Death Penalty In Boston Marathon Case Massachusetts Governor Backs Biden Push For Death Penalty In Boston Marathon Case
Massachusetts Governor Backs Biden Push For Death Penalty In Boston Marathon Case Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker is backing the Department of Justice and President Joe Biden as they seek to reinstate the death penalty for Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. This week, the Department of Justice encouraged the Supreme Court to reinstate the death penalty for Tsarnaev, calling it "one of the worst” acts of terrorism in the US since the Sept. 11 bombings. Though Biden has publicly opposed capital punishment, his administration threw its support behind the DOJ, which filed a 48-page brief to overturn a previous decision from a lower court that vacated Tsarnaev’s dea…

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by Zak Failla
Politics
Embattled Former Mayor In Westchester Barred From City Comptroller Ballot Embattled Former Mayor In Westchester Barred From City Comptroller Ballot
Embattled Former Mayor In Westchester Barred From City Comptroller Ballot Despite petitioning through much of the spring, former Mount Vernon Mayor Richard Thomas’ attempts to get on the Democratic primary ballot for city comptroller has been rejected by a Supreme Court judge. Following two days of hearings, state Supreme Court Justice Mary Smith ruled that Thomas’ petition to overturn the Westchester Board of Elections’ rejection of his nominating committee was not specific enough. Thomas required 300 valid signatures to get on the ballot, with the former mayor having filed petitions with more than 1,000 last month, hundreds of which were challenged by District …

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by Zak Failla
News
First Presidential Debate Tonight: When, Where To Watch First Presidential Debate Tonight: When, Where To Watch
First Presidential Debate Tonight: When, Where To Watch Tonight, Tuesday, Sept. 29, is the first presidential debate between incumbent Republican Donald Trump and Democrat challenger Joe Biden. The debate will be held in Cleveland and Fox news program host Chris Wallace will be the moderator. The event will begin at 9 p.m. and will last for about 90 minutes without commercial breaks. Topics for tonight’s debate include the Supreme Court, COVID-19, economy, race and violence in America, and election integrity, according to the Commission on Presidential Debates. There are two other debates scheduled for Oct. 15 and 22. On Oct. 7, the vice-pr…

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by Kristin Palpini
Politics
New Turn In Mount Vernon's Mayoral Musical Chairs: Judge's Ruling Results In Change New Turn In Mount Vernon's Mayoral Musical Chairs: Judge's Ruling Results In Change
New Turn In Mount Vernon's Mayoral Musical Chairs: Judge's Ruling Results In Change The lengthy game of musical chairs over who ultimately lands in the mayor’s seat in Mount Vernon may have come to a merciful end after more than five weeks of debate. A state judge has determined that Andre Wallace is the mayor of Mount Vernon, and will stay in that seat through the remainder of the year. "Today a Supreme Court Judge ruled in favor of me," Wallace said. "I assumed the role of acting mayor the moment former-Mayor Richard Thomas took a plea deal. No action to change city council leadership changes that." The ruling ends 37 days of mayoral mayhem over who was actually in char…

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by Zak Failla
News
55 Families File Class Action Lawsuit To Repeal NY's Religious Exemption Ban On Vaccines 55 Families File Class Action Lawsuit To Repeal NY's Religious Exemption Ban On Vaccines
55 Families File Class Action Lawsuit To Repeal NY's Religious Exemption Ban On Vaccines Fifty-five families are suing the state in Supreme Court challenging a new law that repeals the religious exemption for vaccinations. Attorneys Michael H. Sussman and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., filed the suit on Wednesday, July 10, stating the plaintiffs, held lawful religious exemptions, and requested that the court repeal the measure. the suit said. The suit claims the families can no longer educate their children or send them to camps as a result of the law. Robert F. Kennedy Jr.Contributed “To deprive families of the rights to freedom of religious expression, parental rights, and the r…

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by Kathy Reakes
Politics
New Protections For Abortion Rights Enacted In New York New Protections For Abortion Rights Enacted In New York
New Protections For Abortion Rights Enacted In New York Forty-six years after the Roe v. Wade decision, New York is taking steps to protect women’s rights and make sure that historic court decision becomes state law. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed The Reproductive Health Act this week, which “protects women's reproductive rights by ensuring New Yorkers can make personal healthcare decisions and medical professionals can provide crucial services without fear of criminal penalty.” The new legislation comes amid fears that the Supreme Court may overturn Roe v. Wade. "In the face of a federal government intent on rolling back Roe v. Wade and wom…

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by Zak Failla
Politics
Most Americans Support Substantial Restrictions On Abortion, Marist Poll Says Most Americans Support Substantial Restrictions On Abortion, Marist Poll Says
Most Americans Support Substantial Restrictions On Abortion, Marist Poll Says The new Marist Poll Survey has revealed that the majority of Americans are in favor of increased restrictions on abortion. About 75 percent of Americans agree that abortion should be limited to the first three months of pregnancy, at most. This includes both those who identify as Republicans, at 92 percent, independents, at 78 percent, and Democrats, at 60 percent, as well as 61 percent who identify as pro-choice. In addition, the survey found that 65 percent of Americans say that if the Supreme Court revisits Roe v. Wade, the court should rule to either allow restrictions as decided by eac…

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by Valerie Musson
Politics
Ex-Westchester DA Jeanine Pirro Has Earned $200K For Speeches Since Trump Took Office Ex-Westchester DA Jeanine Pirro Has Earned $200K For Speeches Since Trump Took Office
Ex-Westchester DA Jeanine Pirro Has Earned $200K For Speeches Since Trump Took Office Former Westchester County District Attorney and Fox News host Jeanine Pirro pocketed more than $200,000 in speaker fees from 13 Republican organizations during President Trump's first two years in office, according to this Media Matters report. The Fox television network claimed it does not condone any talent participating in campaign events.  In fact, Fox News personalities routinely participate in Republicans events including fundraisers and rallies, according to Media Matters. Pirro may be the most prolific campaigner for Republicans. She is host of the weekend TV show "Justice wi…

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by Jon Craig
Politics
It's Cuomo Vs. Cox As Kavanaugh Controversy Continues In New York It's Cuomo Vs. Cox As Kavanaugh Controversy Continues In New York
It's Cuomo Vs. Cox As Kavanaugh Controversy Continues In New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo of New Castle and state Republican Party Chairman Edward Cox publicly clashed on Thursday, Oct. 4 over whether the U.S. Senate should confirm Brett Kavanaugh as the newest member of the Supreme Court. The Senate narrowly OK'd Kavanaugh's appointment by President Donald Trump, 50 to 48, on Saturday.  At a breakfast hosted by the Association for a Better New York, as reported here by WNYC, the Democratic governor said he was against Kavanaugh's confirmation, saying the federal judge appeared angry and partisan during the televised hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committe…

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by Daily Voice
Politics
Racist, Sexist, Anti-Gay: Chappaqua's Hillary Clinton Unloads On Trump Racist, Sexist, Anti-Gay: Chappaqua's Hillary Clinton Unloads On Trump
Racist, Sexist, Anti-Gay: Chappaqua's Hillary Clinton Unloads On Trump Hillary Clinton unloaded on President Donald Trump, charging her former presidential rival with being racist, sexist and anti-gay rights. 'He has been racist, he's been sexist, he's been Islamophobic, he has been anti-LGBTQ, I mean, there's a long list,' Clinton told the Atlantic Events Festival last week. She also said there's "a lot to be concerned about" over Trump's Supreme Court appointee Brett Kavanaugh. The former presidential candidate and Secretary of State from Chappaqua cited Trump's behavior in the wake of Charlottesville, Virginia, riots in 2017, which were provoked …

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by Jon Craig
Politics
Donald Trump Jr. Says He's Open To Run For NY Governor Donald Trump Jr. Says He's Open To Run For NY Governor
Donald Trump Jr. Says He's Open To Run For NY Governor Donald Trump Jr. and Kimberly Guilfoyle say they could turn being the most Googled couple on the Internet into a White House career for her – and possible New York governor run for him, according to this report by Daily Mail.  The couple's first-ever television interview together was aired by DailyMailTV.  Guilfoyle, 49, said she would put her life on hold to work at the White House if President Donald Trump invited her to. Her 40-year-old boyfriend, Donald Trump Jr., said he's not worried about Special Counsel Robert Mueller trapping him in the Russia probe. With three divorces and six c…

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by Jon Craig